Mnangagwa charms young mother at Parirenyatwa Hospital

by Staff reporter

02 Feb 2019 at 13:53hrs | Views

For first time mother Mrs Junior Dhliwayo Murehwa, her month-old twins were a double blessing, but like a gift that keeps giving, her boys yesterday charmed President Mnangagwa who gave the family a present of US$400.

Mrs Dhliwayo Murehwa, from Triangle in Masvingo, has been at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals since she gave birth to Anotida and Anashe on January 6.

One of the boys is in a nursery because of low birth weight, forcing the mother to remain holed up in Mbuya Nehanda Maternity Ward at the country's largest referral hospital.

Faced with medical expenses and other related costs, the monthly National Environment Cleaning Day came to Mrs Dhliwayo's rescue.

President Mnangagwa visited the hospital yesterday to take part in the clean-up exercise and after planting two indigenous trees and doing some cleaning at the hospital, he headed for the maternity ward.

His first port of call was Mrs Dhliwayo Murehwa's bed where he congratulated the young mother.

After sharing a few jokes with her, President Mnangagwa handed over US$400 to Mrs Dhiliwayo who did not expect the princely gesture.

The first time mother said she was stunned by the President's compassion.

"These are my first children and never expected this," she said.

"This is a double blessing to me, first to have the twins and secondly meeting the President who then hands over a lot of money to me, in cash for that matter. I think the boys are blessed and the future is bright for them."

She added: "I have been here since January 6 and the money will be put to good use. I have a lot of things to cover and I thank the President for such a gesture."

President Mnangagwa's benevolence did not end with Mrs Dhliwayo Murehwa as he also handed another US$100 to Mrs Lacey Mbaluku who had a still birth.

Visibly in pain, Mrs Mbaluku said: "The baby could not make it but I am thankful to the President for this gesture."

Addressing people and stakeholders who had gathered for the cleaning exercise, President Mnangagwa said the Mbuya Nehanda Maternity Ward needed refurbishment.

"We came here and I know you have cleaned everywhere but I entered into Mbuya Nehanda Maternity Ward and discovered that it needs a lot of refurbishment," he said.

"A lot needs attention from the floors, walls, windows. They are dilapidated and need to be spruced up. Even the beds where I saw the mothers and their babies on need attention. The bed linen needs to be changed. If what I saw is an area which was prepared for the President what more those wards and areas I did not visit?"

He went on: "We have to sit down with the Minister of Health and Child Care (Obadiah Moyo). Government cannot go it alone, we need support from other stakeholders. If we apply our minds to it, this will be sorted out